4: Hot and Bothered.

Why the hell is a gorgeous man wrapped in a huge bow with flowers and a helium love balloon standing in front of my door?

Amelia had thought as her eyes swept up and down the man standing at her door, as confused as she was. Amelia had her lips scrunched up at one corner distastefully, somewhat outraged by the sight. 

It wasn't Valentine or close to so what was with the outfit? She had wondered, glaring at the bow tie made with ribbons you use to tie up Christmas presents, shifting next to the red love helium balloon held down by a single string. She had wished it would just pop apart. 

The man is handsome, Amelia had admitted to herself despite how he looked like he had been dropped on a remote island somewhere in the Philippines thinking he had boarded a plane to Sicily. 

"Um…" he cleared his throat. "Hi." 

And he has a voice with a rich baritone texture, Amelia had noticed.

"What do you want?" She had snapped with a frown, folding her arms over her growling belly. 

His gaze had dropped momentarily to her belly area and her annoyance had spiked up. 

"Look I don't know who you are and I'm sure you've got the wrong house or venue with all this costume—" Amelia waved her hand disapprovingly at his outfit "—you've got on. Next time, use a Google map. or something. Except if you're the delivery man Chantal sent because of the traffic, I'd appreciate it if you disappear off my property in ten or I'll call the police." Amelia had ended her statement with a wry close-lipped stretch of her lips, eyed his outfit again, and slammed the door closed, whispering to herself about employing security ASAP so she never saw him again.

********

Amelia wanted to laugh. 

Life could be very sly, couldn't it? She thought as the very same man she had hired security against closed the door behind him, approaching her desk. Despite he was dressed in the typical black and white suit whose designer's name was unrecognized, he looked like a million bucks. 

His very slightly wavy hair was pulled back into a man top bun, flaunting the finest features of his face. Clean-shaven. He has eyebrows to die for, well shaped with no sign of stray hairs, his cheekbones were defined and his brown eyes intense yet tender at the same time.

 He took the chair on the other side of the table, directly opposite Amelia, and then his countenance changed, but only slightly. His eyebrows flickered in surprise as he recognized the woman he was seated in front of. Her hazel eyes, sharp as the sun glinting off from the top of the pointy tip of a crystal.

Amelia was quick to notice the change before it returned to the cool, calm, and collected exterior. 

What is the thought that had flashed across his mind? Does he have second thoughts now that he has seen the woman he will be working for? She pondered.

 It was obvious he recognized her and must be wondering if she recognized him. Now that he wasn't dressed in a ridiculous outfit, Amelia saw aspects of him she hadn't noticed before. His gaze boasted of a certain kind of confidence that seemed to be as grounded as the Earth's foundation itself. His shoulders were broad and sturdy-looking like he possessed Herculean strength capable of carrying any responsibility.

Amelia picked up the back velvety file and opened it. 

"Kamari Donovan." She read his name in her mind. 

Kamari. She mulled over it for a second. A fine name for a fine man, she thought and moved on to the other details in the file. University degree in economics, once worked for Baltimore group as a personal secretary for three years, played quarterback and assistant coach for Saint Liberty High. Hobbies include Food, Travel, Books and Stone collecting. 

Stone collecting, Amelia read again in her mind. What an odd hobby, she thought.

After a nod at her head of HR, the interview starts.

"Good morning Mr Donovan. Please introduce yourself and tell us why you would make a good Personal Secretary." The head of HR starts with a professional tone, just like with the others.

Kamari straightened on his chair, greeting everyone as he met their gazes steadily, his eyes resting on Amelia's as he answered the head of HR. "My name is Kamari Donovan and I am certain I would make a good Personal Secretary because I am a professional and highly organized individual with a passion for my work."

Amelia had heard him speak before when he had shown up at her door. Only two words and she never forgot how richly textured his baritone voice was but it only occurred to her now how deep-bone it actually was. 

"I enjoy being the person that is responsible for organizing things for my employer. I am keen to learn what my employer likes and doesn't like, what she wants and doesn't want. I take those responsibilities seriously." 

His chocolate brown orbs never left Amelia's hazel ones as he spoke, his words registered a different meaning in Amelia's head. Many times, Amelia had to give herself a mental shake to stop thinking so carnally. 

Kamari relaxed into the chair. "I understand that failure to perform to her required standard as her Personal Secretary will result in other people suffering as a repercussion."

Amelia narrowed her eyes at him, pressing her lips together as she studied him. His aura. His posture.

What's with the solidness he possessed? He didn't seem shaken up at all. If he was then he was brilliant at concealing it and Amelia was disturbed. She didn't like that there was nothing to pick on. He'd be too full of himself, she thought.

From the corners of her eyes, Amelia could see the satisfactory beam radiating from her head of HR and Mrs Rossi and nearly rolled her eyes at it. 

Perfect. That was a problem.

"What do you think are the top three skills a PA should possess, Mr Donovan?" Mrs Rossi asked.

He pushed himself off his relaxing position and leaned forward, one hand resting on her desk and the enthusiastic gleam in his eyes could be likened to the one the a salesman sure of his marketing skills.

"Professionalism. Organization. Ability to multitask." He ended his concise answer with his index finger meeting his thumb to raise three fingers at them. 

Kamari looked at each of them across him singly. First, Mrs Rossi who had asked the question followed by the Head of HR and eventually, Amelia.

"Professionalism is necessary because the nature of the job requires me to come in contact with different people daily and I would want those people to trust in my abilities."

He raised two fingers for his next point.

" Two, a Personal Secretary with the skill of organizing the workload effectively, and three, they would be given varied tasks during the day. If I cannot multitask, I may be overwhelmed and perform poorly. I understand that all these contribute to the image and growth of the company. As a result, I have groomed myself over years into possessing these three skills."

Mrs Rossi was pleased. One didn't need to guess as her face was beaming approval like the green on a traffic light. The head of HR wasn't any different, he was nodding his head in agreement with Kamari. They were satisfied with his answers and didn't have any more to ask so, simultaneously, they turned their head towards Amelia.

Amelia expended the air in her lungs through her nostrils, watching Kamari through slits.

 He can't be this impenetrable. Had someone tipped him off before coming here? She thought and immediately dismissed the idea. Mrs Rossi wouldn't do that and neither would her head of HR.

Amelia opened his CV and immediately closed it back. "Your CV is good but tell me, Mr. Donovan, where do you see yourself in five years?" 

This might just be the question to flaw him, likely. Most interviewees reply with something about upgrading a project they've been working on such that they leave the company as soon as they can. Amelia wanted stability.

"Well,"  Kamari leaned backward. " If I am successful at the interview today, and you're pleased with my work, I plan to still be working here at your company in many years to come. In my opinion, it is best to have a Personal Assistant that is reliable and trustworthy and trust is built over a prolonged period. I have no plans to move jobs if I am successful in this interview."

Concise and straightforward. Amelia found it unbelievable. He'd be hard to manage. People like this get to run their boss eventually over time because they're so reliable for everything. How was she to establish her authority? How was she to ensure he had a rein that could take any growing pride?

He was the perfect Personal Secretary interviewed so far, or close to perfect but even Mrs Rossi hadn't appeared formidable.

He seems competent and that bothers me. she thought. How do I mess up his confidence a little?

She leaned forward, her index finger under her chin. A smirk lifted the corners of her lips.

Let's see, Amelia chewed on something inexistent in her mouth. This would be it, she was sure.

Amelia rarely had coffee outside and she wasn't a fan of instant coffee either. However, she's had to put up with the dirt water the cafe nearby the company calls coffee when she didn't have the time to make her coffee herself. There was a coffee maker in the kitchenette that was in the semi-lounge area of her large office but she was usually too busy to have the patience needed to make it the way she likes it. 

If Kamari was going to be her Personal Secretary, he had to be good at his coffee-making game. And that was the rein Amelia felt she could hold on to.

"Quite impressive answers." The corners of Amelia's lips twitched, wanting so badly to be allowed into that mischievous pre-triumphant smirk. "But how can I be sure you're not all smooth talk?"

"Excuse me?"

Tang! The note of surprise in Kamari's voice was as effective as a ring from a calming bell. 

"How about we put it to a test?"

"A test?" 

Amelia nodded, unaware of the glance Mrs Rossi was giving her. She leaned forward even more, making sure she fixed her eyes on Kamari's and that his was on hers.

"Make me a cup of coffee."

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